About the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development

Who are we?

Illicit drug crop cultivation, drug trafficking, and drug use are global phenomena. The global drug market is recognized as the largest illicit economy worldwide, posing significant international challenges. Developing and emerging countries are particularly vulnerable to the harmful impacts of the global drug economy due to their lower resilience against its negative effects. In 2022, approximately 292 million people used drugs globally, marking a 20% increase over the past decade. Harmful drug use can lead to drug use disorders, with 64 million people suffering from such disorders in 2022, a 3% increase since 2018. In Africa alone, the UNODC predicts a 40% increase in drug users by 2030.

The Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD) adopts a holistic approach to address this global challenge. Commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the GPDPD operates under the political lead of the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Drug and Addiction Policy. The aim is to collaborate with interested governments and international partner organisations to promote development-centred, health-oriented, and human rights-based approaches in drug policy, setting a new international standard. These approaches prioritize the well-being of individuals. By integrating rural development strategies, sustainable solutions to the global drug problem are identified.

The GPDPD activities target several levels

The GPDPD operates on multiple levels to influence global drug policy. The United Nations (UN) drug control regime plays a crucial role in shaping the legal and normative frameworks that guide how member states address drug policy. The GPDPD’s mission is to embed development, health, and human rights-focused positions within UN-level drug policies, ultimately establishing these as global standards.

The activities of the GPDPD are guided by key frameworks, including:

the 2016 Outcome Document of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016),
the EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 and its Action Plan,
the National Strategy on Drug and Addiction Policy of the Federal Government (2012),
the BMZ strategy paper "Alternative Development. Sustainable change through development-oriented drug policy" (2020),
as well as the Council of the European Union’s conclusions on alternative development (2018).

Adhering to the principles of these political documents, the GPDPD advises interested governments on refining their national drug strategies. Working closely with implementation partners, the project develops, evaluates, and implements drug policy approaches that prioritize alternative development and human rights. Currently, the GPDPD's activities span three continents.

Moreover, the GPDPD is committed to advancing scientific research and innovation in global drug policy. Robust knowledge and evidence are essential to ensuring that drug policies are grounded in solid findings, free from ideological biases. This approach is key to developing objective and effective drug policy strategies.

Want to stay updated on our activities and positions? Follow us on Twitter at @GPDPD_ and @dev_drugs, and connect with us on LinkedIn GPDPD and LinkedIn DDH.

Political lead

The GPDPD operates under the political patronage of the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Drug and Addiction Policy. The Commissioner coordinates Germany’s policy on narcotic drugs and addiction, ensuring that the GPDPD’s efforts align with the international commitments of the BMZ and the German Government. Both domestically and internationally, the Commissioner advocates for a holistic drug policy approach. Germany’s drug policy is structured around four complementary pillars: (i) prevention of drug use, (ii) counselling and treatment of people who use drugs, (iii) harm reduction, and (iv) law enforcement.

Partners

Developing a sustainable strategy to address the global drug problem within the consensus-based UN framework requires extensive cooperation between governments and international organisations. To achieve this, the GPDPD actively collaborates with a diverse range of partners.

The GPDPD cooperates with governments whose drug policies align with the German Government’s agenda. Through pre-consultation and coordination, these partnerships ensure that joint positions are more effectively represented in international dialogue forums. This international cooperation also facilitates the implementation of pilot projects. Currently, the GPDPD engages with the governments of Albania, Colombia, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Switzerland, and Thailand through various collaborative formats. Additionally, the project cooperates with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at global and country level.

Cooperation with international civil society is a crucial aspect of the GPDPD’s approach. It cooperates closely with leading non-governmental organisations across various areas of global drug policy. Civil society partners include: